The Best Pitcher in Baseball: The Life of Rube Foster, Negro League Giant [Paperback]

Robert Charles Cottrell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2004

When Rube Foster was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981, his rightful place alongside baseball's greatest black heroes was at last firmly established. A world-class pitcher, a formidable manager, and a brilliant administrator, Rube Foster was arguably more influential in breaking down the color barrier in major league baseball than the venerable Jackie Robinson.

Born in 1879, Rube Foster pitched for the legendary black baseball teamsthe Cuban X-Giants and the Philadelphia Giants before becoming player-manager of the Leland Giants and the Chicago American Giants. Long a central figure in black baseball, he founded baseball's first black leaguethe Negro National League in 1920. From its inception, the Negro League served as a vehicle through which many of the finest black players could showcase their considerable talents. Challenging racial discrimination and stereotypes, it ultimately set the stage for future efforts to contest Jim Crow.

Despite the long-standing success of the Negro National League as an influential black institution, Rube Foster was deeply embittered by organized baseball's unmitigated refusal to lift the color barrier. He died a broken man in 1930.

The Best Pitcher in Baseball is the story of a man of unparalleled vision and organizational acumen whose passion for justice changed the face of baseball forever. It is a moving tribute to a man and his dream.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Andrew (Rube) Foster was a star pitcher, winning manager, and founder of the Negro National League. But was he better than Cy Young, Walter Johnson, or any other hurler? Cottrell (1920: The Black Sox, Blackball, and the Babe) so contends in this admiring view. He covers Foster's successes and disappointments, his fight for equality, and his belated election to the Hall of Fame in 1981. Sadly, Foster died in 1930, too soon to see the game's integration. The photos and other illustrations add luster to this black baseball-era tribute. A worthy addition to most sports history shelves. [Cottrell is also an LJ reviewer. Ed.] Morey Berger, St. Joseph's Hosp. Lib., Tucso.
- Morey Berger, St. Joseph's Hosp. Lib., Tucson
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Cottrell's biography of Foster is a solid contribution to the literature on one of the unjustifiably dark corners of baseball history."

-Elysian Fields Quarterly,

"Rube Foster ranks with Charles Comiskey, Connie Mack, and John McGraw as one of the founding giants of modern baseball. As player, manager, owner, and executive he set the standard for baseball in black America during the early twentieth century. The Best Pitcher In Baseball clearly establishes Foster's greatness and his extraordinary contributions to the national pastime."

-Jules Tygiel,author of Past Time: Baseball As History

"Robert Charles Cottrell's definitive biography of Rube Foster adds much to our knowledge of this commanding figure in the history of the old black baseball leagues."

-Robert Peterson,author of Only the Ball Was White

"He deftly examines Foster's outstanding career on the diamond in the early 1900s...Cottrell effectively documents Foster's contributions to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981."

-Choice,

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: NYU Press (April 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814716156
• ISBN-13: 978-0814716151
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,673,372 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rube Finally Gets His Time at the Plate, January 7, 2002

By 

Steven M. Gerson (Overland Park, KS) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best Pitcher in Baseball: The Life of Rube Foster, Negro League Giant (Hardcover)

Rube Foster-what an amazing man! Dr. Robert Cottrell's impeccably researched biography gives us insight into the evolution of an outstanding athlete, coach, manager, businessman, visionary, and co-founder of the Negro Leagues. In this book, we not only get a detailed look into the day-to-day life of a ballplayer (complete with box scores-balls, strikes, hits, walks, stolen bases, and outstanding plays). More importantly, we see the panorama of black ball (and white ball) in the early part of the 20th century as we barnstorm the country and Cuba with Rube and his various teams and teammates. This biography joins the pantheon of other works by Dr. Cottrell. In his earlier biographies of I.F. Stone, Nicholas Comfort, and Roger Baldwin, we saw sensitive yet balanced looks at strong-willed men in conflict with oppressive conservatism and prejudice in the areas of journalism, religion, and social injustice. Now, we are treated to the same spirited view of our nation's pastime and one of its unsung heroes. This book about Rube Foster provides us nothing less than a much needed revisionist's look at American history.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Unsung American Hero Gets His Day at the Plate, December 18, 2001

By 

Steven M. Gerson (Overland Park, KS) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best Pitcher in Baseball: The Life of Rube Foster, Negro League Giant (Hardcover)

Rube Foster-what an amazing man! Dr. Robert Cottrell's impeccably researched biography gives us insight into the evolution of an outstanding athlete, coach, manager, businessman, visionary, and co-founder of the Negro Leagues. In this book, we not only get a detailed look into the day-to-day life of a ballplayer (complete with box scores-balls, strikes, hits, walks, stolen bases, and outstanding plays). More importantly, we see the panorama of black ball (and white ball) in the early part of the 20th century as we barnstorm the country and Cuba with Rube and his various teams and teammates. This biography joins the pantheon of other works by Dr. Cottrell. In his earlier biographies of I.F. Stone, Nicholas Comfort, and Roger Baldwin, we saw sensitive yet balanced looks at strong-willed men in conflict with oppressive conservatism and prejudice in the areas of journalism, religion, and social injustice. Now, we are treated to the same spirited view of our nation's pastime and one of its unsung heroes. This book about Rube Foster provides us nothing less than a much needed revisionist's look at American history.

5.0 out of 5 stars My Baseball History Collection, September 11, 2011

By 

Coach Javier - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Best Pitcher in Baseball: The Life of Rube Foster, Negro League Giant (Paperback)

This is a great book and it is in great condition. It's new! I got a great deal on it and the shipping and handling was reasonable. I love this book on the history of american sports/baseball. Thank you.

Coach Javier